Television host and surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz faced intense questioning during a Senate hearing on Friday regarding his nomination to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a pivotal agency overseeing health coverage for over 160 million Americans.
President Donald Trump had previously praised Oz, claiming, "There may be no physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again" when nominating him for the role. During the hearing, Oz emphasized his commitment to empowering patients, addressing fraud, and protecting vulnerable populations while tackling chronic diseases to reduce federal health spending.
“I commit to doing whatever I can, working tirelessly, to ensure that CMS provides Americans with access to superb care, especially Americans who are our most vulnerable — our young, our disabled and our elderly," Oz stated.
However, Senate Democrats pressed him on issues surrounding potential Medicaid cuts, his history of promoting alternative health remedies on television, and his past financial dealings. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., raised concerns about Oz’s record on paying Medicare and Social Security taxes and questioned his involvement in what he termed "wellness grifting."
In response to questions about Medicaid, Oz stated he had not seen any proposed House bill that sought to cut the program. He reassured lawmakers, particularly Senator Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., that he did not want children to lose their health insurance.
Senators also asked Oz about private Medicare plans, with Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., inquiring about prior authorization practices that delay care. Oz agreed that these practices are often misused and suggested introducing clearer guidelines for their use.
On drug pricing, Oz called for "complete and radical transparency" from pharmacy benefit managers, criticizing the lack of transparency in pricing and claiming that it results in inflated costs.
Oz's financial history also came under scrutiny, with senators referencing his 2022 Senate bid financial disclosures. He previously reported holding significant shares in health companies regulated by CMS, including UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, Amazon, and Microsoft.
The CMS is one of the largest health care purchasers globally, overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, and spending $1.5 trillion in fiscal 2024. It processes over one billion Medicare claims annually and monitors health care quality through inspections and audits.
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